HITLER ESCAPES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 November 1939, Page 5

HITLER ESCAPES

ATTEMPT ON HIS LIFE BOMB EXPLOSION IN BEER HALL. SIX PERSONS KILLED & SIXTY INJURED. Ry Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, November 9. An explosion in a Munich beerliall, where members of the Nazi Party were meeting, killed six people and injured (it). Il occurred at 9.35 p.m., 27 in iniit es aIT er I lerr Hitler had unexpectedly been called Ti wav.

An official statement says the explosion was inspired by foreign agents and offers a reward of 500.000 marks for the discovery of the perpetrators. Those killed were all old members of the Nazi guard.

An official explained that Herr Hiller left the beerhall earlier than was intended, as he was summoned back to Berlin in connection with important State Business. Telephone communication between Berlin and Munich was cut off for several hours after the explosion. The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that, according to an eyewitness, the explosion came from above the hall, either in an upper room or under the floor of it, indicating a time bomb. The ceiling fell, burying the occupants of the hall under the debris.

Another report says clues pointed to a plot originating abroad. It adds that fanatical rage prevailed in Munich and the Government hurriedly posted the reward of 500,000 marks.

The Munich correspondent' of the British United Press says it is reported that the explosion was caused by a time bomb placed in an empty attic above the beer hall, causing the heavy ceiling to collapse on the audience. Four women were among those killed. A Nazi guard in an interview said, "While the audience was filing out there was suddenly a terrific explosion and the ceiling collapsed on screaming men and women. The police immediately took charge.” The blackout was lifted to facilitate the rescue work. Many people were seriously injured. Reuter’s Paris Correspondent says an unconfirmed report from Munich says Herr Hess was among the killed, but the German Propaganda Ministry states that the casualties do not include prominent Nazis. Dr Goebbels and Herr Hess are believed to have left with Herr Hitler. Herr von Ribbentrop and General Goering did not attend the meeting.

It was stated in a broadcast from Daventry last night that the stringent precautions always taken for Herr Hitler’s safety had been made more stringent since the start of the war. This occurrence was the third attempt on Herr Hitler's life since the outbreak of war, the other two being outside the Air Ministry in Berlin and at the Police Headquarters in Berlin. There had been a number of attempts on his life since ho came to power. For instance, in January 70 men were tried for plotting to kill him and oilier Nazi officials.

Daventry reports that the latest, official German statement regarding the explosion at the Munich beer hall where Herr Hitler was speaking reports the casualties as seven dead and 63 injured. There was intensive police activity in Munich all day and according to a Berlin message some arrests have already been made. It is stated that Herr Hitler’s escape is nothing short of a miracle. The explosion occurred at about 9.20 p.m. In previous years Hitler had spoken until about 10 p.m. but instead of following his usual custom he cut short his address and did not remain to talk with friends. The explosion occurred ten minutes after he had left the hall and the spot where he was standing was buried in nine feet of debris. The German news agency denies that any prominent Nazi leaders were among those injured. The reward offered for the apprehension of the perpetrators has been increased to the equivalent of £20.000 at pre-war rates. There are hints of another drastic purge inside Germany.

THREATS & THEORIES QUESTS FOR PERPETRATORS OF EXPLOSION. PARIS SUGGESTS GESTAPO RESPONSIBILITY. LONDON. November 9. The German Ministry of Propaganda states that so far as is known no prominent Nazis were killed in the beerhall explosion in Munich. The manager of the beerhouse told the special correspondent of the Associated Press that the dead consist mostly of road supervisors who lingered in the hall talking after Herr Hitler's entourage left. The people of Munich were astonished at the sudden floodlighting of the streets and jumped to the conclusion that peace was imminent. Many went off to celebrate, indicating how little the hearts of the Germans are in the war, but it is considered that the outrage will now precipitate the bitterest hostilities.

The Berlin radio, broadcasting the news of the explosion, declares: "Britain can be assured this time that wo are going to take drastic, measures against Germany’s enemies.” The semi-official “Deutsche Dienst” says: "We do not know the details of the crime, but the instigators who provided the money for such an abominable idea are those who have always employed assassination, namely the British warmongers and Jews. We shall now treat the people who commit crimes for English gold in a manner preventing them from menacing the security of the Nazis. England will now know us. It is a fight to the death.”

Inspired comment from Berlin states that the outrage with rally the German people to Herr Hitler and intensify the war. It is also hinted that there may be an intensification of the persecution of the Jews.

The Paris radio suggests that, the Gestapo was responsible for the explosion in order, first, to demonstrate that Providence protects Herr Hitler, and. secondly, tn get rid of intractable Nazis.

AMERICAN VIEWS

FOREIGN INSTIGATION INCREDIBLE. NAZI ZEALOTS PROBABLY GUILTY. NEW YORK, November 9. The “New York Times’’ in a leader, says the accusation by official German quarters that the attempted assassination of Herr Hitler seems to be traceable to foreign instigators in incredible on the face of the event itself. The attempt took place at a party rally which brought together the most important leaders governing the regime.” Nobody who knows how diligently there affairs are managed, with what meticulous care the premises are searched before the meetings and the elaborate precautions taken against the slightest, risk will be able to believe that foreign instigators, even if they wished, could have cut through the Iron Guard surrounding the Reich celebrities and plant an explosive in the very shrine of National Socialism.

II is possible that among the original Nazi zealots there arc some who believed so long and passionately in the original doctrine of undying enmity to Bolshevism that they were prepared to avenge what they considered an opportunist. betrayal of that, faith. This suspicion will gain credence if the explosion is followed by another drastic purgv